Christianity began as a small sect in Judea.

A few centuries later, the mighty Roman Empire declared it the state religion.

How was this possible?

The triumph of the Cross explained, a 🧵 At first, Christianity was just another small religious sect.

The gigantic empire had thousands of those.

There was nothing special about yet another cult showing up.

But that would soon change

In 1531, an image appeared on a poor man’s cloak.

The fabric should have decayed. The colors should not exist.

Yet it endures, and science still can’t explain it.

This is the story of the tilma of our Lady of Guadalupe, a 🧵 In December 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared to a poor Indigenous convert named Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City.

She asked him to tell the local bishop to build a church at the site where she stood

Critics have spent years trying to debunk the Holy Shroud.

None have succeeded.

8 facts that prove the Shroud of Turin is not man-made, a 🧵 1.

Critics have tried to tear it down for centuries.

The evidence still stands.

7 facts that prove the Bible is of divine origin, a 🧵✝️ 1.

Some claim Jesus never existed.

But even without the Gospels, ancient sources confirm the core claims of Christianity.

Jesus in non-Christian sources, a 🧵 1.

In 1571, Europe faced its greatest threat at sea.

A coalition of Western navies confronted the Ottoman fleet.

They brought cannons, courage, and one powerful weapon the enemy could not see: the Rosary.

The battle that saved Europe, a 🧵✝️

From Iberia to Jerusalem, Christian knights shaped medieval history.

Here are the most notable Christian military orders and what you should know about them... (thread)🧵 Where it all started

From desert hermits to Crusader kings, the Cross has been reimagined across centuries of faith, conflict, and devotion.

A brief history of some of the most important crosses... (thread) 🧵 The Latin Cross

Some say The Lord of the Rings shows that power always corrupts.

But that is not the case.

What Tolkien actually says about power and corruption, a 🧵 The Lord of the Rings does not portray power as something inherently bad.

Power is shown as something incredibly dangerous, but it can also be a force for good.

Théoden is the best example of this

When you hear the word "Crusades," you probably think about the hot sands of the Holy Land.

But many crusade battles were fought in snowy forests, along the cold frontiers of Europe.

The Northern Crusades, a 🧵 While many brave knights fought in the hot eastern sands, the Church faced another mission in the north: the conversion of the last pagan peoples of Europe.

The Baltic tribes, such as the Prussians, remained largely pagan well into the 12th and 13th centuries

Are science and religion incompatible?

Only if you know nothing about them.

8 Christian inventions that changed the world, a🧵 1. Universities (12th century)

Born in the heart of Catholic Europe, institutions like Bologna and the Sorbonne were founded under the guidance of the Church.

Contrary to popular belief, Christian scholars actively encouraged scientific inquiry and pursuit of knowledge

Many Catholic churches proudly display jeweled skeletons.

But how did this strange tradition begin?

The answer lies in German towns, the rise of Protestantism, and the ancient catacombs of Rome... (thread)🧵 In the late 16th century, Europe was swept by the Reformation.

Protestant reformers desecrated ancient churches, destroyed holy relics, and left many Catholic parishes without their beloved patron saints

When Christ ascended into Heaven, the apostles did not lose their faith.

They went forth to share it with the world.

Here's what each apostle did, and what happened to him... (thread)🧵 1. Peter

The "Rock" of the Church. He preached in Jerusalem, Samaria, and Antioch, before going to Rome.

There, he founded a Christian community and became the first Bishop of Rome.

Peter was crucified upside down around 64 AD under Nero

Science and religion were never mutually exclusive.

In fact, many of history’s greatest minds believed in God.

8 brilliant scientists who were Christian, a🧵 1. Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543)

Catholic canon and polymath who proposed the heliocentric model of the solar system.

Far from being rejected by the Church, he dedicated his groundbreaking work to Pope Paul III.

Earlier, Pope Clement VII had also approved of his ideas

The Old Testament is often dismissed as myth.

But archeology tells a different story.

Here are 8 discoveries that affirm the Old Testament... (thread)🧵 1. The Tel Dan Inscription (9th c. BC)

Discovered in northern Israel, this basalt stone fragment contains the phrase "House of David."

It’s the earliest known extra-biblical reference to King David and proof that he was a genuine historical figure

This Sunday, Pope Leo will be inaugurated.

But for centuries, Popes weren’t just inaugurated, they were crowned.

The majestic tradition of the Papal Coronation…... (thread)🧵 Upon accepting the papacy, the newly elected Pope would don the white cassock for the first time.

He would then impart his first blessing to the crowd.

The coronation, however, took place later: usually on the first Sunday or Holy Day following the election

For years, the date of Christ’s death has been debated.

But now, NASA scientists may have found the exact day.

How science aligns with the Gospels… (thread)🧵
The year and date of Christ’s death are highly disputed.

Most scholars agree it occurred during the governorship of Pontius Pilate, who ruled from A.D. 26 to 36.

But that’s where the consensus ends

Many believe the Old Testament is just myth, or isn't meant to be taken literally.

But now, a team of scientists may have found the literal Noah’s Ark.

The unbelievable discovery that confirms Scripture… (thread)🧵 Meet the Durupinar Formation.

A massive boat-shaped site discovered in 1959 in the mountains of eastern Turkey.

It lies next to Mount Ararat, the place where Noah is said to have landed after the flood.

Some claimed it was a natural formation. Others? A buried Ark

Today, we imagine Jesus as a bearded, long-haired man.

But early Christians saw Him differently.

9 of the earliest depictions of Jesus, a🧵 1. Alexamenos graffito (c. 200 AD)

The earliest known depiction of Jesus was made by a pagan kid in a Roman school.

It shows a donkey-headed man on a cross, scrawled with the words: “Alexamenos worships his god.”

The papal coat of arms tells a story.

It speaks for the Pope, reflecting his virtues, his mission, and his worldview.

Recent papal shields explained, a🧵 1. John XXIII

The fleur-de-lis is a symbol of the Virgin Mary, showing purity and Marian devotion.

The Lion of Saint Mark shows courage and highlights John's Venetian heritage. The tower symbolizes vigilance

A brief history of every Pope named Leo, a🧵 Leo the Great, or Leo I (440-461)

He defined Christ’s dual nature at the Council of Chalcedon (451) and met Attila the Hun, whom he convinced to spare Rome and leave.

Leo I is the first Pope to be called "the Great" and a Doctor of the Church